By Pastor Eric Hullstrom
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Buffalo Center
I began my college career at Moorhead State University in Moorhead, MN as a computer science major. In high school, I got A’s in my computer classes, so I thought this was going to be my career path.
My first two quarters of computer classes as MSU were a breeze, as I got A’s in those classes as well. But during my spring quarter, I hit a tougher computer class. I was getting an A, but I had to work even harder for it. One assignment, in particular, was giving most of the class fits. The night before the program was due, many of us were struggling to get our programs to work. I was growing more and more frustrated as nothing I could think of worked. Finally, I resigned myself to getting the program done as close as I could and then settle for a grade less than an A for the first time in any of my computer classes. I went to bed and planned to get up early to submit my assignment.
I remember very vividly that night, dreaming about my program. Makes sense since I spent nearly all day in the computer lab working on it. I remember seeing the code running through my brain, kind of like my subconscious working on it. And then suddenly, at about 3 a.m., I woke up and sat up in my bed. A proverbial light bulb was flashing over head as I finally had the answer. I rushed across campus to the 24-hour computer lab, logged into my account, pulled up my assignment, and typed in what I had just “dreamed up”. And you know something? It worked! My epiphany at 3 a.m. got me another A in a computer class. I was ecstatic.
But what I did not know then was that the point of that sudden epiphany was not to enable my career as a computer programmer. Rather, it was to plant a seed that would take years and years to break the surface and to make itself known. The ultimate epiphany that I had was to show me, in very vivid detail, that God is in control, especially when it comes to His plans.
I have heard people lamenting to me about why so and so does not believe in Jesus even though they were raised in a Christian home, or because they have been shown “clearly” who Jesus is. But what they fail to realize is that God is the one who turns the proverbial light bulb on and thus revealing who He is. I wish I could control it, but my vision is small and short-sighted. Therefore, I praise God that His plan is perfect even though I do not understand it sometimes.
And so, I continue to pray for those who do not know Jesus, hoping that their epiphany will come someday. And then, if/when it does come, praise God for His glorious gift. So, who is that person for whom you need to pray? Pray, pray, and keep on praying, and give God all the glory. Amen.
